HC Deb 15 July 1998 vol 316 cc183-4W
Mr. Austin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the United Nations and the EU instruct commercial banks to reveal the existence of accounts holding assets from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [50350]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

[holding answer 13 July 1998]: Bank accounts of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia remain frozen pending the resolution of succession negotiations which are continuing under the auspices of the High Representative's special negotiator. UK banks and other financial institutions holding assets which are subject to the resolution of third party claims are not required under current legislation to reveal their existence. We have no plans to ask the United Nations or the EU to intervene in this matter.